DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, M a r c h 25, 2026
ON THE HUNT
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African American history museum reopens after 2 years BY CHRISTOPHER CARTWRIGHT
Staff writer
PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
Children search for Easter eggs on Saturday during the Hippity Hoppity Easter Event at Duplessis Park. 16,000 eggs were spread across the park’s grounds for the hunt.
Hippity Hoppity Easter event includes 16,000-count egg hunt, arts & crafts, food, music BY WENDY LOUP Contributing writer
Saturday’s Hippity Hoppity Easter event at the Youth Legacy Duplessis Park would have made the Easter Bunny proud by featuring a massive 16,000-count Easter egg hunt, pastel-themed décor and adorable dogs awaiting adoption. The event, hosted by Ascension Parish Recreation and Bearded Events, included more than 100 vendors, food and musical entertainment. The park’s massive oak trees provided shade while families relaxed, took pictures with the Easter Bunny and children jumped inside inflatables. The afternoon also included the Easter egg hunt with colorful
plastic eggs spread across park grounds. The Ascension Parish animal shelter — Cara’s House — featured seven dogs available for adoption. Of those seven, four went home with new families during the event. “This is our first time being here, and we are hoping the dogs get a lot of exposure and get adopted,” said Natalie Albin, Cara’s House volunteer dog adoption coordinator. “This is a great opportunity for people who would not normally have time or be able to go to the shelter to come out and see the dogs’ personalities and interact with them,” Albin said. Breeds for the dogs available for adoption were mixes including terrier, boxer, pitt and a
chow/golden retriever. A 4-year-old white Great Pyrenees named Meechum was adopted during the event. For other vendors, their participation at the Hippity Hoppity Easter event was a prize like finding the golden egg. First-time vendor McKayla Gautreau, owner of High Maintenance Freshies, was excited to display and sell her homemade car air fresheners. “I have many styles and scents. Anything you could want, I’ve probably got,” laughed Gautreau. “They have a lot of funny sayings and slogans.” Gautreau, who is based in Prairieville, has had her business for a little over a year.
ä See HUNT, page 3G
In a small building at the former Tezcuco Plantation in Burnside, a museum dedicated to the African American experience in the River Parishes launched 32 years ago. The River Road African American Museum — now in Donaldsonville — closed around two years ago to repair roof damage caused by Hurricane Ida. This weekend, the organization’s flagship building officially reopened its doors. Standing before a gathered crowd March 14, Executive Director Darryl Hambrick announced the reopening before his sister and museum founder, Kathe Hambrick, cut the ribbon. “We’re ready to reopen the doors. Are y’all ready?!” he said to cheers and applause. The celebration kicked off March 13 and continued the next day with live music, a performance by the dance group GSmoove Steppas and artist showcases, including a talk by Geismar artist Malaika Favorite. The museum charts African American history from slavery through the sharecropping and Jim Crow era and beyond. The organization also maintains a church memorial and a historic Rosenwald School, and it will soon begin restoration on a historic gathering spot in town. Kathe Hambrick said the museum was born out of her desire to “tell the story of my people.” “When I started this museum, I wanted to be a part of documenting oral histories and saving the artifacts of what’s left,” she said. “Industry has come into this area. The landscape has changed. The big 200-year-old oak trees, 400-year-old oak trees are no longer there.” Darryl Hambrick said the day was a way “to celebrate the successes, the hardships, and everything that was endured on those plantations.” “And to give hope to our community and let them know no matter what you go through, no matter what happens — a storm, COVID, slavery, death — there’s always hope,” he added. “If we can give that hope to the world, then we’ve done our job.”
SINSATIONAL Film setting site of local celebrations
BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
Contributing writer
An alliance of film industry and cultural heritage groups circled the wagons on the eve of the Oscars that featured Ryan Coogler’s hit “Sinners.”
STAFF PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
RRAAM Executive Director Darryl Hambrick holds a historic photo of an enslaved man from Louisiana during the reopening of the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville on March 13.
Community members reflect on past, future Various community members attended the events, including Odessa Johnson, 91, a former history and civics teacher at East Ascension High School. “I have a button that says, ‘Teach Black History,’ ” she said, pointing to a button on her shirt. “I don’t think we should exclude any history at all because we are a human race. All people belong to that race, and so I think that we should teach history from all backgrounds.” Johnson, who grew up in Prairieville, discussed the lengths she had to go for an education when she attended Lowery High School prior to school desegregation. “There was no Black high school on the east side of the river. I had to catch the five o’clock bus in the morning, go to the bus station, stay there until it got light, and then caught a street bus,” she said. From there, she and other students were dropped off at the Mississippi River, where they caught a ferry and then walked through Donaldsonville to the school. “I wanted to get an education. I did not want to work in a place where I had to cook, wash for other people and what have you,” she said. “So I’m happy; I’m blessed that I was able to
ä See MUSEUM, page 4G
Sabine McCalla, a singer featured in the movie ‘Sinners,’ performs at the River Road Juke Joint event March 14 in Convent. PHOTO BY FRANCES Y. SPENCER
ä See FILM, page 4G
Veterans Memorial Park pavilion renamed in memory of longtime volunteers Longtime volunteers Jack and Janice Watson are being remembered Saturday for their commitment to honoring veterans. Ascension Veterans Memorial Park Foundation is hosting the event, which includes dedicating a marker and naming the park’s pavilion “The Watson Pavilion.” It also includes a welcome home celebration for Vietnam War-era veterans. I knew the Watsons for many years. Jack and Janice were always contacting me about a program to honor veterans or help community neighbors in need. Jack and I
the Vietnam Veterans of America, spent lots of time together when he we decided to hold a ‘welcome was pushing for the construction of home’ celebration for Vietnam Warthe veterans park in Gonzales. He era veterans. made sure I knew about veterans National Vietnam War Veterans events and worked with me on stoDay is officially observed on March ries about area veterans. He was Darlene 29, to honor the millions of service persistent and dedicated in his work Denstorff members who served during the to honor veterans, especially VietVietnam War, including those who nam veterans. AROUND “We were trying to come up with LIVINGSTON were wounded, killed or went missa good date as we didn’t want to do ing. it on Memorial Day or Veterans The program starts at 10 a.m. SatDay,” said organizer Tanya R. Whitney. urday at the Veterans Memorial Park on “Since Jack and Janice were so involved in Irma Boulevard. Former Parish President
Tommy Martinez is the guest speaker.
St. Amant FFA Farmers Market Pick up plants and crafts from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the St. Amant FFA Farmers Market and plant sale. The sale is at the school’s greenhouse and new gym, 12035 La. 431, St. Amant. The event is hosted by the St. Amant High agriscience class. A kids’ zone, photos with the Easter bunny and vendor booths are all planned for the day.
ä See AROUND, page 2G